Music and Drama.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7, 14 August 1912, Page 14

Music and Drama.

By

BAYREUTH.

BOOKINGS. (Dates subject to alteration.) HIS MAJESTY'S, AUCKLAND. August 20 to 31—Miss Margaret Cooper. August 81 to September H -I’atitomiuie. September 23 to October 12-Oscar Asche, Lily Brayton. October It to 19 I’liminer-Denntaton Co. October 29 to November 9 —-Auekland Amateurs, “The Mikado.'" TOWN HALL, AUCKLAND. Each Night-“ The Dandies." August JO—Gilbert and Sultirhn Night. August 17—Miss Bartley and Mr Borradale'a Recital. August 19 — Auckland Competitions. XCCKLAND PICTURE SHOWS The T.vrle Theatre, Symonds Street— Nightly. Royal Albert Hall. Albert Street Nightly. MELT. ING TON OPERA HOUSE). August 15 to 29 J. C Williamson, Ltd , Pantomime, “Sinbad the Sailor." August 31 to September 12—‘‘The Blue Bird" Co. September 23 to October 2-Wimmer-Den-niston Co. October In to November 2 -Oscar XselieLily Brayton Co. Plays Old and New. ✓T"\ KAMA is one of the oMest of I * the arts, and it should not fI J ho possible to write of its " development ” during a quarter of :i century, says Mr E. A. llalighan iin a recent article- Yet all playgoer- of (let us -;*.y) early middle age arc. ccnsvious of a gvead- development in our own drama. We become optimists When we think of it, To be Accurate, it is not so much a development fl dramas as of plays, by no means tie ttmo thing. Euriphics is not old-faSh-ioned to this day. Pinero and HenryArthur Jones are. Ibsen's "Ghosts’' was written thirty years ago. and it is great drama still. I’iuero's ' Tlie (Second Mrs tl'anquer.iy" is not so old by a decade; yet it is already old-fashioned, in technique and idea- .'I ke. in ISB9 wo thought Mr Henry Arthur Jones’s "The Middleman" a play with a tendency. I 9av* an sot of it a few weeks ago. and it se ilied obifashioned inehxtaUina, Old-fashioned Satire. During this last week We have had. a good object. Ic— or, in the development of British plays. We had a revival of '■lllo Amazons," a comedy which had e fair suece-s irncteen years ago and captivated America, possibly because .Americans are fond of pretty sentiment and love, to see British aristocrats on the stage. But ‘'The Amazons” is hopelessly old-fashion 1. Its' ideas were hour. I to be. ter Pinero satirised a 'fad of tin- moment ml <1:1 not see, or did lio. attempt to see, lew the surface. The fad ba- become a fact. Women play games mid shoot and fish and do not cca-e to !>e women. .- * that the satire is a- dea l a- last year's roses. “The Amazons" also-itruek me as being hopelessty old-fashioned in tee.luriqpe. Imagine a nioiini dramali-t putting tins spee -h into the mouth of a spirited y onng womu n: — "I felt that if 1 o.aid only paradd the ~tn« t«. a- -a num, at the hour when all the namby-pamby women of our class an being es orted here and there, lifted in and out of carriages, wrapped about in soft- cloaks, half smothered by polite attentions—if I could only do (ids I should iu h-. I lie a man." If you ran change a -pe-.-.h in a play to oratio t. diqisa u : ,ut aetii-.dli | a rephrasing it. there must is* sonuUring dramatically wrong with the s;»eo h. All the s|»ee lies in I’iiu-ro’s play can be turned into erati > oMiqua without any other alteration than that of pronoun- aid t-i -c-. Then the fun o' “The Xmazons" S.« regulation the.itrie.it fun. It es the humour of action rather Ilian of ideas. That is to »ay. "The Amazons” is physical farce, ton ng men of an cxtraonlinary pusillanimous ty;«* ■ ramble through buehea ai, 1 bribe a ki-iqx-r to nay lie was protectis) from a posu-her by them, and >o f nth. Were »<• more nimplomind d in )s«3 than we are now? To•Hy we admin* the |wyXiolojjirti| fauve, ■tl-auks to Bermird Show. Technique. A* a ■Hintr.i-t to "The Amazons," «vw ha.l tie* proiiuction ~(Mr Hlwnley Ihaugh. ton's “1 Linik* tVakoe." In dialogue, ciwirsctcr'swtion, and ideas it is s wtavy

ymitigor than "The Amazons" or tiny of linero’s plans of that period. Air Houghton has a kvoti sense of the theatre without being tihiMdrioal. His 'technique its much finer than Pinero's, because you do not notice it. Pinero’s neatly planned dramiattc puzzles viwd to be considered the ideal of theatrical technique. Our younger dramatists attempt much more sHillwult tasks, beiau.se they cotr.lition their technique to their sirhjeds. There really as no need for pessimism «'■ n one remembers the good work being done by our younger playwrights. “Riutherford ami Sons’ “ rhe New Sin." “Milestones” and “Whit the Public Wants" (have not been successes with faddists only, but have been more or le-s poputair plays. Ibsen and Shaw. No doubt much of this development in British drama is due to Ibsen through Bernard Shaw. The Shaw school of St. John Ilankin -atil Granville Barker has become a trifle old-faehtonenl, however. The dramatists of “The Prodigal Son” and “The Voysey Inherrtanee" have tried, to imitate the Shaw point of view, and that is too individual to be imitated. It condiitions his technique, and his imltaitors have had to -roproufuee his ideas in order to reproduce this technique. Galsworthy, who is always classed with these dramatists for the purposes of repertory theatres, really stands alone. He, like the still younger school of dramatists, does not project himself in his plays, but tries to picture the whole of mankind, and does not deny tthe reality of strong feeJings. That denial we accept from Shsvw hecatase lie is a psychological romanticist, but it has weakened the Work of St. John Hank in, who ha d none of Shaw’s intellectual passion. Granville Darker is quite young, and he will do fine work one day, but he must try to forget tltat- he admires his master. It is true that there is a painful monotony in the grey, colourless themes chosen by our y'otmgir dramatists, but they are doing splendid work, and from among them will arise a genius who will fully express the new romance of life. Music in the Dominion —Which City Leads ? Certain opinions expressed by Air. Spencer Lorraine as to which city in the Dominion leads in matters musical have not been allowed to go unchallenged. Returning to Dunedin recently Air. Lorraine, who spent some months in Auckland teaching singing, told an interviewer that he considered Dunedin the most musical town socially in the Dominion, there being considerably more music in the home life there, and the standard being much higher, than elsewhere. He considered that in public music the other towns are ahead of Dunedin, through being better supplied with publie singers.' In Cliristchurch he mentions Mrs Mead and Aliss Rita Lyons. Mr Lorraine goes on to say: “In Wellington,' again, they are badly off for singers, but they pay good money and engage their artists from all parts. In Auckland they have many good voices to fall back upon, and, vocally, are able to put up some good performances. I have succeeded in persuading the Aliases Knight, of Auckland—‘two very talented young ladies (soprano and contralto) — to come and settle in Dunedin, as they will be a great acquisition, especially in choral work; and also Air Ernest Parkes, who has now been acknowledged the finest baritone in Aibdrala-sia.” From an orchestral point of view he places Wellington first. Asked how he accounted for this fact he remarked: “Firstly, it has had its Town Hall, with concert <handlers attached, for several years, and it is a big asset to the town. Performances are more impressive, and the acoustic pr*qiertie>», being so sensitive, cause a desire on the |>art of the performers to make the standard as high as possible. Wellington, like all other New Zealand towns, found the orchestra its one great trouble, so the municipality decided to put aside a certain sum every year to retain the ia-st musicians in Wellington for so -many performances, and to form a municipal orchestra to give so many coneerta during the year. This has had an excellent and most satisfactory result. At vdioral concerts the or chest ra now is of quite a good standard. Again, these same musicians formed a society of their own. This also gives a

number of orchestral concerts during the year; so with the Municipal Orchestra and the Orchestral .Society Wellington is able to hear a lot of high-class music which could not possibly *be performed in other towns."

C-oncerning Auckland, Mr. Lorraine says it has made great strides musically since the Town Hall was opened. “Before that time concerts were very badly attended. Now they are packed, especially at the Satutday night performances. The Town (Hall and municipal help are undoubtedly the only means by which one can advance music to a higher artistic level.”

Opinions to the Contrary. A gentleman who is very well versed in musical matters in Auckland and elsewhere. question whether Air. Lorraine was in a position to speak from the social standpoint. This gentleman considered that Christchurch is, without doubt, the most musical town in the Dominion, and at present the City of the Plains compares favourably with Auckland in the matter of soloists. With regard to the remarks about orchestral music, he said: “The Auckland Orches tral Society is far superior to any orchestra in the Dominion. This was acknowledged by the Press and the. public when it visited Christchurch during the Exhibition, and the standard has been well kept up since. In one of two numbers, especially the overture to one of AVagner’s operas, the Cliristchureh people considered the rendering by the Auckland Society equal, if not superior, to that of the Exhibition Orchestra. It is only fair to add that at that time Air. Hill had only had the Exhibition Orchestra under his control a few days." The Aucklander expressed doubt about Mr. Lorraine's commendation of the Municipal Orchestra at Wellington, and asked: “If it was so very satis fa-ctors why has it recently been abandoned?” “As far as musical matters are concerned," said Herr Wielaert, “the best choral performance I have ever heard in the Dominion vias that given by the Royal Society at Wellington, under Afr. Alaughan Barnett. They engage a professional orchestra as much'as possible, and their performances are very fine. AA'it-h regard to the Wellington Alutrieipal Orchestra. I must say that their performances both as to matter and genera!

execution were not anytfiiing like the |>erformaiiees we give here in Auckland with our Oreliotral Society. The Wellington pe.rple do not meet with any thing like the reception Aucklanders give the society. The enthusiasm created.by tire Auckland Society i- before anything 1 have seen in the Dominion, and this fact is all tin more remarkable when one considers how much the climate is against it.” In speaking of the soloists whose names were mentioned by Mr. Ixsrraina in his interview Herr Wielaert sa : d-t must be borne in mind tlhat they were all pupils of that gentleman. In Alaslame Wielaert, who was to go to WelFngton in a few -weeks to take part iu “ Tha Redemption,” Auckland had an oratorio soloist wlio stood, alone’. Herr AVielaert did not think municipal nssiistance was in any way wanted in Auckland. He instanced the Izcdertafef and the Ortdiestral Society as what could ■be achieved if the people were really enthusdm»tic. A Benefit. “A Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Night,” as a benefit for local charities, is announced by the Auckland Amateur Operatie Society, and is to take place at the Town Hall on Friday night (16th iust.), commencing al 8 o'clock. A very attractive programme of choruses, quartets, trios, duets nnd. solos has been arranged from works by the two great composers, nnd the talent available to the Society is of such a high order that a special musical treat- is promised. Hockey Association's Concert. Some of Auckland’s most popular talent figured on the programme of tha concert organised by the Hockey Association and held in the Town Hall last week. The attendance was large, and the various items thoroughly enjoyed. Air. Harold Gregson opened the concert with Elgar’s well-known masterpiece. “Pomp and Circumstance," and demon strated the mastery he has attained of the organ. He was even more successful in the grand finale, “Tannhauser,” his interpretation of which was most masterly. Mr. Barry Coney, contributed a very effective reading of the baritone prologue to -“Fagliacci,” by Leoneavallo, and as an encore sang Hill's “Waiata I’oi." playing his own accompaniment.

Mies Elizabeth Knigbt, who possesses a wire - of very pleasing quality, gave a’ very* fine rendering of the aria, “Roberto, 0 tu ehe Adoro,” from “Roberto if Diabolo,” and in the second part of the programme sang Ronald's'“Dawn in the Forest” and Lohr’s “Golden Dawn.” On both occasions her singing was very popular, and she had to respond to recalls. The Lyric Quartet, Messrs. Aspinall, Blakeley, McElwain, and Ryan, for their concerted singing, were insistently encored. Miss Ina Bosworth, a talented performer on the violin, played Seitz's “Pusztaklange” ami Schubert’s “Ave Maria” very pleasingly, the sweetness of tone of this instrument being very noticeable. Miss Madeline Knight gave a well-Im la need rendering of "11 Negrito” front “Lucretia Borgia,’’ and further proved her voeal powers in Chaminade’s charming “Silver Ring,” Liddle’s “In My Garden,” and her recall selections. Some excellent, monologue work was given by Mr. IL C. Borradale,who contributed a number of items of a widely varying nature, but was equally successfull in them all. Mr. Leo Whittaker proved himself a very- capable accompanist. Dickens Reeital.

The popularity of a Dickens’ reeital, in the hands of capable elocutionists with adequate characterisation, was demonstrated last week when the Auckland Shakespeare .Society put. on a programme at the Town Hall. The seating accommodation for 3000 was quite insufficient, ami some hundreds were sent away disappointed. It was striking evidence - of the interest that continues to be taken in the works of the great author and evidence, too, that there is plenty of scope to supply a general demand for this particular kind of entertainment. Most of the famous characters from Dickens’ works appeared on the platform, and the fact that they were all dressed according to the illustrations, which are as much a part of a Dickens book as the text, added considerably to the success. Among the Items given were excellent renderings of “The Friendly Waiter,” from “David Copperfield” by Mr. J. F. Thomson and Miss Z. Bartley; "Mr. Bumble’s Courtship,” from “Oliver Twist,” bv Mr Montague and Mrs Forsyth; “Dick Swiveller and the Marchioness,” from "The Old Curiosity Shop,” bv Mr Roberts and Miss Lily Aldridge; “Mrs Gamp,” from “Martin Chuzzlewit,” bv Mi - Alan McElwain; and “Air Wilkins Micawber,'’ by Mr Montague. There were fifteen items on the long programme, and at the close the trial scene from “Pickwick” was given, making a fitting conclusion to an evening that gave the greatest satisfaction to the lovers of the great novelist. Miss Bartley and Mr Borradale. These two well-known and talented artists have arranged to give a dramatic and voeal recital in the Auckland Town Hall concert chamber next Saturday evening, when they will present a novel ami interesting programme of dramatic sketches, scenes and recitals, and a number of musical items. Both these performers have been winning distinction of late in the field of elocution, but it is not generally known that they are both talented vocalists as well, and are, in fact, two of the cleverest all-round amateurs in the Dominion to-day. Their recital should be of a highly interesting character in every respect, and well worthy of public patronage. The performance will conclude with a delightful one-act comedy, “My Lawyer's Fee. The box plan is at Wildman & Arey's.

Auckland Competitions. The society’s third annual festival commences in the Town Hall on Monday next, -and both the large ball ami concert chamber will be required for the adjudication of the various classes. The large number of over 1,700 entries has been received from all parts of the Dominion, and as many of Auckland's leading performers have entered very keen contests may be expected. The prize money ami trophies, medals, etc., are valued at considerably over £5OO, and with the £lOO Broadwood Piano presented by the E. and F. Piano Agency, the competitors should have no reason to complain of when their talents may secure them some of these handsome prizes. The two judges, Air W. Arundel Orchard, of Sydney t music), ami Mr W. L. Paine, of Melbourne (elocution), will hear all the competitors at the morning amt afternoon sessions, and will then select the best two or three front each class to apepar in finals, which are all taken in the evening, thus ensuring splendid programmes by the best performers. The managing secretary informs ntc that there will be many new competitors ap-

pearing this y<ar, which is evidence that tire .society creates students in music, elocution, and art, and it is to l»e hoped that the public will bestow liberal patronage on.the festival, which is conducted for the sole purpose of encouraging study in all branches of the various arts.

Town Hall Organ Recitals. In the Town Hall last Saturday night Mr. T. C. Webb, the ninth contestant for the position of city organist, gave his reeital before a good attendance. Air. Webb was not always master of the instrument, and his technical resource in several instances was unequal to the demands of the music. Here and there he suffered his feet to trail along the pedals, ami the perfect ensemble of feet and hands was' often non-existent. His sustaining of a pedal note, while he made his stop changes, became wearisome, and as regards the blending of his combinations he was not always successful, and his' registrations were often unevenly balanced. Not much discrimination was exercised in the choice of the contrasting colours, while there was sometimes a lack of unanimity in attacking and • releasing the chords and intervals. Tile executant also took extraordinary liberties in places with the tempo and parts of polyphonic music were not always played with a rigorous legato where so required, while a feeling for rhythm was not a prominent feature of the per-

f ormanee. The closing reeital of the series terminates next Saturday night with a performance by Air. H. S. Claughton, formerly of Masterton, but now of Wellington. The Dandies. - ’

That clever company of entertainers “The Dandies”—are becoming increasingly popular with Auckland audiences as the season progresses. They appealed for eight weeks to big houses in ‘Wellington, and an evidence of then popularity in Auckland was seen on Saturday night, when the sale of ticket, had to be stopped some time before the performance commenced. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights "Tie Dandies” will appear at His Alajesty s Theatre, returning to the Town Hall on the "Monday following. The first and only matinee of the season will be given at His Majesty’s on Saturday afternoon.

The Lyric Theatre. Variety and a high order of merit characterise the programmes produced at the Lyric Theatre in Symonds Street. The latest collection of films at this popular place of amusement contains some really splendid specimens of the film-makers art. The -theatre itself is one of the most comfortable and up-to-date in the Dominion, and in addition to the excellent pictures, the Lyric Symphony Orchestra discourses suitable music throughout the performance. Royal Albert Hall. The programme to be produced at the Royal Albert Hall this evening (Wednesday) and. throughout the week contains an interesting and thrilling story of circus life. The film is called "The Snake Dancer,’’ and is a sequel to "The. Pride of .the Circus,” a picture which caused an extraordinary amount of interest. The rest of the programme will contain the usual up-to-date budget of the latest films, and needs no further recommendation. West's Premier Ladies’ Orchestra add to the attractiveness of the performances with their excellent music.